I use Google every day. Multiple times per day. I also use Gmail, Analytics, Adwords and Google Reader every single day. In fact, there are plenty of Google products I use on a regular basis. For me, that's the advantage of Google...everything I need in one place with one login, and it all works extremely well. I expect most people reading this are the same.

So when should you switch search engines? Or maybe the first question should be why would you switch search engines? My answer to the first question would be now, and to the second...well, because competition in the search marketplace has to be better than a monopoly, right? I meet a lot of people outside search marketing who are worried by Google's dominance and by the 'power' Google have over them, as well as the effect it could have on their business if Google ceased to be a channel for sales for whatever reason.

My feeling is that businesses would be much happier if Google had a competitor that could bring in significant sales to their business. As someone who manages PPC campaigns, I'd also be happier if Google Adwords had a viable competitor. Adwords is great but not perfect, and it has no other alternative to push it.

Personally, I'm trying to use Microsoft Live more and more. It's a struggle sometimes - not because it's particularly bad, but because Google has become a habit. I recently tried Live Maps (previously Multimap) and I actually think it's better than Google Maps! For so long I've thought Google Maps was best but I'd not really tried anything else. It was just convenience. I was stuck in my Google mindset.

Being realistic, it's unlikely I'll switch from Gmail or Google Reader but I can 'do my bit' by using Live for search. I'm also trying to tell others to do the same. I don't mind Google; in fact, readers of my blog will know that I love Google! But from a search and advertising point of view, surely competition is better than monopoly? Try Live. Who knows, you might like it!